First look: 2013 Panini The Beach Boys trading cards

Wouldn’t it be nice if there were a trading card set only about one of the most-influential bands of all time, The Beach Boys?

Just wait 23 more days and you’ll have it — that’s when 2013 Panini The Beach Boys arrives. It’s the first mainstream card release for the iconic American band — and it will pack two Concert Gear memorabilia cards and more into every 24-pack hobby box. Other boxes, of course, will include autographs from members of the band.

It’s the latest non-sport card release from Panini America, which has explored music and pop culture in recent years with sets for Michael Jackson and Justin Bieber as well as its history- and celebrity-laced Americana lines as well as past pop culture releases all found under its Donruss umbrella.

Panini bills this set as “the definitive trading-card tribute to the rich history of one of America’s most legendary bands.”

Autographs will be found from the living founding members of the band, including Brian Wilson, but will be rare — limited to 70 or fewer copies, according to the company. Memorabilia cards will be made for all five band members — Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, David Marks and Bruce Johnston — while guitar pick cards also will be found.

Other insert cards in the Oct. 30 release are Sounds of Summer (three per box), Honors (four per), In Their Own Words (three per), Top 10 Hits (six per), On the Record and Etchings (two per box per set) as well as diecut Gold Albums cards. There will also be a parallel card found in every pack, while Artist’s Proof cards will be limited to 99 and 1/1 printing plates will be rarer pulls.

Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Baseball and Beckett Sports Card Monthly magazines. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an email to him at colds@beckett.com. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here.